James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is heading back to cinemas this October, giving audiences another chance to experience Pandora in the format it was made for: premium large-format 3D. The record-breaking sequel will return for one week only, screening in IMAX 3D and Dolby 3D beginning October 2, 2025.
The limited re-release is timed as a lead-in to Cameron’s next installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, set to hit theaters this December. For fans who missed the film on the big screen—or those eager to revisit its groundbreaking visuals—the return of The Way of Water offers the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves once more in the richly detailed world of Pandora.
The sequel picks up with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), now fully integrated into Na’vi life, as he and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) fight to defend their family against renewed human threats. Alongside Worthington and Saldaña, the film stars Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, and Stephen Lang, with Cameron once again at the helm.
When it first released in 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water shattered box office expectations, eventually surpassing $2.3 billion worldwide. Much of its success was attributed to Cameron’s insistence on theatrical spectacle, particularly through IMAX and 3D screenings that amplified the film’s aquatic visuals and motion capture performances.
This re-release doubles down on that same strategy, promising a technically pristine presentation across the largest and most advanced cinema screens. It also serves as a reminder of Cameron’s long-term storytelling vision, with The Way of Water setting up key narrative and visual elements that will carry into the third film.
Whether you’re reliving the experience or diving in for the first time, Avatar: The Way of Water is returning in the format where it matters most: the cinema.
